Combination collapsible support and carriage cage for washing machines



July 21, 1936. s. s. HOLLAND COMBINATION COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT AND CARRIAGE CAGE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 2, 1935 INVENTOR.

Sidney 5. Ho/land A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CO1WBINATION COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT AND CARRIAGE CAGE FOR WASHING MACHINES Sidney S. Holland, Sandusky, Ohio, assignorof one-half to Oscar Rieger, Sandusky, Ohio Application May 2,. 1935, Serial No. 19,450

4 Claims.

ing position, or with corresponding bases forming a part of the machine. Whether legs. or bases, the support and machine together, bring the machine high enough to be in a proper working position. All such machines constitute a separate and distinct piece of equipment which must be allotted corresponding space in a kitchen or wherever used. More recently, some smaller types have been designed. In such types when stands or bases are provided to support the machine at proper working height, as is usual, there are two pieces of equipment for which space must be found. The present invention is intended to avoid the above and other objections in washing machines, especially in the smaller types. It is especially designed for apartment and similar use where every cubic foot is at a premium.

The invention provides a midget or very small size washer of a height which may be readily stowed away beneath a sink or other shelf-like structure, utilizing otherwise waste space. Cooperating with this midget washer is a combination collapsible carriage cage and stand or support. This structure, when opened or spread, constitutes an efficient base or support by which the midget washer is raised to and securely supported in accessible or working position. This same structure, when collapsed, receives the washer as a cage and securely supports it in a lower plane, with the washer feet just clear of the floor. In this position, the structure comprises a roll away wheeled carriage cage for the washer, adapted to be quickly and easily rolled under a sink or other shelf-like structure or 'to be rolled out from beneath the same, for use, as the case may be.

The combination provides a very simple, eflicient and inexpensive midget washing machine of a size especially desirable for apartments; flats and similar places where space is. at a premium, with a structure adapted to support it, selectively, in either its raised operative position or in its lowered position and to quickly and easily carry it. into or out of an otherwise waste space with the least possible effort, It is simplyrolled away and rolled out as desired. The size and weight of the entire washer are such that it is easily picked up and set down, by the, user, a. pair of simple grips or handles being provided on the lower part of the outer wall for that purpose. In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation and use of the invention, reference should be. had to the accompanying drawing forming part of the present application. 7

Throughout the several figures of the drawing, like reference characters designate. the same. parts in the different views.

In the drawing:- Fig. 1 is a side view slightly in perspective, showing the washer in supported or working position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with washer in carrying position, the. washer being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2, the spread position of the carrier being shown in dotted lines;

one-third of that of the regular full size washer. It is, therefore, much smaller in diameter and in height. It is of much less weight. The regular washer legs are entirely omitted. Instead, very short feet, only a few inches in length, areused.

So, the total size of the entire washer is such that it may be very easily stowed away under the regular average sink or other shelf-like structure. While not in use, it occupies no otherwise usable space.

Referring to the drawing in detail 1 indicates the midget washer, as a whole. The side Wallis extended downwardly to provide a short skirt flange 2 to which the upper ends. of the feet 3 may be riveted. bolted, welded or otherwise suitably secured. Feet 3 are very short, just long enough to raise the washer from the floor. The

whole unit is amply small, in all dimensions, to be easily moved into and out of the space beneath an apartment sink orother small waste space. But, alone, it is entirely too short or low for working position of a user. The present invention combines with this washer, a'carriage cage which by a simple swinging movement is collapsed to receive Within it the washer for carrying the washer to its out-of-the-way place beneath a sink, and by a reverse swinging movement is spread to stand beneath and provide an efiicient support to receive and hold the washer inraised or Working: position. 1

V straight; fiat bars. The end, members .5 'ofaall Their'oppo- 2o V castor casting I'D which suitably bolted, asiat The collapsible carriage cage which supports the washer both'in raised. or working-position, and in lowered or carrying position for rolling into and out of storage, preferably, is made from fiat strong iron bars. In the constructionchosen to illustrate the invention, there are two rectangular' frames each-substantially. a duplicate of the other and pivo-tally connected atthe. cen- V ters of theirtop and bottom members. For economy in quantity production; the vertical' mern bers 4 "of the frames are all the same simp le,

frames are also simple flat bars. site endsare up-s'et to provide attaching flanges '6 through which they are riveted, or'o'th'erwi'se suitably secured to the members 4. Each. end' member is provided with an opening I near each end for the free passage of the stem'or .post 8 of a castorr 9 swivelled'in and having limitedv vertical movement in a: small bracket or 'I I, to'the respective end member '5 While th'e 7 bolt] I. connects the casting 8 to its end member 5; the bolt H and post 8, togethen by engaging ;the member 5fat diifferent jand separated points, maintain' the position "of casting l0 in"aline' 'ment' with its end memberfso that "it :will not 7 swing out to one sideor the other and, possibly,

be snapped ofi;- Of course; each end member is 'provided with a perforationf'or openingyll near eaehppening 1 for'the bolts! I'." 'At a very: short distance inwardly toward the V longitudinal cen- V jterjof the. bar. from each perforation I2; two

spaced ears, lugs or stops l3 are punchediup or otherwise suitably formed from the metal of. the a bar. These ears are spaced apart lengthwise of thebar for a purpose'tobelater disclosed. Be-

1 .tween :each' pair of. stops the respective lend pmember'is wrapped or otherwise suitably pro-.

vided with a protecting cushion; pad or buffer I4 1 of rubberor other suitable material. jThiS protects both the respective membersi and skirt flange 2,.provides'a vibration and sounddeaderring co'ntactibetween the washer, and: carriage cage and furnishes anon-skid surface between. these same parts. At intervals along the length of each bar"5, between its longitudinal. center landthe nearer stop,|3 the bar is provided with one or more perforations or openings l5. V V

'I'wo such frames are pivotally connected together through the longitudinal centers of their "respective end members'in any suitablemanner as by pivot rivets lfijbolt and nut or any other" well known device. Two frames so pivotally'con- 55 nectedmaybe swung toward or. from each other through; a considerable arc, as will be readily understood. 'A pair of these frames constitutes one carriage cage andjsupport or; stand; Since 'me nibers 4 and 5 of. each frame are respectively, of the samelength, the central por-' tions of the end bars of one frame are in- V wardly offset or deflected as at I! .to a distance approximately equal tothat of the thick;

' ness of the'member 5. This permits'one frame to be passed within the other for pivotal con- 1nection between the two frames. It also'provides "limit stops, as the shoulders l8 formed 'at. each 7 endof each offset will engag'efthe corresponding For that purpose it is only necessary to raise the l9 is'provided. One end of this 'latch'ls suitably pivoted in any well known manner in one 'of the perforations l5, of the top bar, preferably, of one frame. Then, when the frames have been 1 swung to collapsed position, the hooked freeend is dropped into the opening 12 of the other member 5, locking the frame in closed position. The

same latch will equally .well securely lock"the';-

frames in spread or washer supporting position.

latch,; swing the frames to positions at right angles to each other and then drop the-freer end of'the latch into the perforation l5 of the other bar, instead of into |2 see Fig. 2. i .It willbe noticed that'the'outside diameterof the washer is about equal to the distance between thecentres of thetwo pads l ion'the members 5 and; therefore, slightly less than the inside distance between a pair of the vertical members 4.

frames when the frames are in spreadp'osition; atright anglesto each other; Forthat reason the washer cannot be put into its carriage cage. 1.

2'5 the cage is collapsed, because as the frames ap when the cage is spread but'may be put in when proach alinement, in their collapsed position, substantiallythe full width of the frame is open to receive the washer. 7 I l Asthe washer is set on the pads l4fof the lower floor surface. The crossed members 5;give an adequate four-point support forthe Washer while in the cage and as the carriage withits'washer is being rolled' away under the sink.

' To use the washer; it is only necessary to take 7 hold of any partof the carriage cage,1pull it out, lift out the washer, swing the frames. to open,

spread or washer supporting position, lock them so andsetrthe washer in place with its, edge rest ing on the pads l4 between stops l 3 of the top members 5. s

.It will be obvious that whether the washer 'is Lin-working position supported on top of the carriage cage' or 'in' non-working position within, it is equally supported by the carriage cage, and that the carriageeasilyand quickly'rollsor'trundles it to any desired position with least'possible effort. v 1 j As is well known, there is a certain amount of vibration in every washing-machine, causing a tendency to walk or move about onfthe floor.

fStops M; in addition to acting as centering mean's :and guides for placing the washer, also'act to checkany such tendencyand'limit any walk-' ing. to the distancebetween any pair of. such -stops,'as,wil1 be'clear. Also the rubber. pads l4 have a like tendency,vas the skirt flangei bites.

into the rubber sufficiently to keep the-washer .60"

in place under. normal conditions. Also, as will be understood; the pads l4 and swiveled castors thoroughly dissipate such vibrations andpracti cally eliminate the "walkingtendency.

A combined carriage cage and support made according to this invention .may be p acked in.

That, diameter is considerably greater than the 20 7 distance between adjacent members '4 of the two members 5, its'feet 3 will just properly clear the with its respective washemor shipment; withthe 7 least possible additional space requirement. The.

onlyadditional space,- if a rectangular package is used, would be a very slight increase in bottom to-top'm easu'r'e, because the side members ofthe' frame would go into the corners. If,'as would probably not be thecase, cylindrical packagesare used, then a slight increase in widthwould also M be requiredequal'to the difference between the 15 length of members 5 and the outside diameter of the washer.

By placing the latch between the pivotal center I6 and the stop l3 and having it operate vertically, its positive locking engagement is absolutely maintained at all times during working position of the washer on top of the carriage cage. It is a fool proof construction. This assures the best possible support for the washera fourpoint support in which all points are equidistant around the outer wall or circumference. That is the securest possible support against over turning or upsetting while in use. Security in that respect is particularly essential in a small lightweight washer. The bottom of the washer becomes a hold-down for the latch preventing it from becoming disengaged. This is a safety feature resulting from co-operation of washer and carriage cage and completely eliminates the human element in keeping the carriage cage spread for adequate support and safe operation of the washer thereon.

It is believed that the construction, operation and use of the invention willbe clear from the preceding detailed description.

Many changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and disposition of the various parts of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without in any manner departing from the field of the invention and it is meant to include all such within this application wherein only one preferred construction has been illustrated as an example and with no intention to in any degree limit the invention thereby.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:-

1. A collapsible carriage cage for washing machines comprising two frames pivotally connected 7 one within the other, stops limiting the relative movement of said frames, a latch carried by one of said frames and selectively engaging the other frame to secure said frames spread and collapsed, respectively, end members of said frames adapted to support a washing machine within said cage clear of the floor surface, end members of said frames adapted to support a washing machine on top of said cage in working position, and stops, carried by said last named end members and engaging and limiting lateral movement of a Washer.

2. In a collapsible carriage cage for washing machines, two frames each, comprising two side bars and two end bars connected together each end bar being provided with pairs of spaced stops near its ends and perforations between its ends and its longitudinal center, means for pivotally connecting one frame within the other through the longitudinal centers of the respective end bars, means carried by an end bar of one frame and selectively engaging the corresponding end bar of the other frame to secure and maintain said frames in spread and collapsed positions, and means carried by the end bars of one frame and engaging the end bars of the other frame to limit relative collapsing movement of said frames.

3. In a collapsible carriage cage for washing machines, two frames of same dimensions and each comprising two side bars and two end bars connected thereto, the end bars being provided with pairs of spaced stops near their opposite ends and perforations between their ends and their longitudinal centers, a latch carried by the end bar of one frame and selectively engaging perforations in the corresponding end bar of the other frame to secure and maintain the cage spread and collapsed, means pivotally connecting said frames one within the other through the longitudinal centres of the end bars, the end bars of one frame being offset to permit that frame to pass within the other frame for connection thereto and to provide stops engaging the other end bars and limiting collapsing movement of said frames.

4. A collapsible carriage cage for Washing machines comprising two frames pivotally connected washing machine on top of said cage in working position, stops carried by said last named end members and engaging and limiting lateral movement of a washer, and friction pads carried by said end members between said stops.

SIDNEY S. HOLLAND. 

